Benefits of Red Beets

1. Lower Blood Pressure, Boost Cardiovascular Health – A study published in 2008 in the journal Hypertension found that red beets contain nitrate that can help reduce blood sugar. It does this by encouraging vascular dilation and is also the cause for beets being seen as a natural aphrodisiac.

2. Prevents Muscle Soreness and Boosts Energy – These same blood-benefits paired with the anti-inflammatory properties of red beets make them a great choice for athletes. A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology found in 2009 that beet juice enhanced the tolerance of high-intensity exercise and enhanced muscle efficiency. Further, beets are also great for providing energy and boosting stamina. In one study, participants consumed a selection of baked beetroot (200 grams) before one run and the same amount of cranberries before a second run. The researchers said that beetroot outperformed cranberries in boosting peak performance by a wide margin.

3. Detox – If that isn’t enough, red beets are also harness powerful detoxification properties. They work to aid cells in pairing toxins with small nutrient groups, facilitating their removal from the body in the urine.

4. Anti-Cancer Benefits – Further adding on to the health benefits of beets, the vegetable has been shown to slow the growth of cancerous tumors by up to 12.5% in some research. In a study comparing beet roots to the effectiveness of an anticancer drug, researchers found the vegetable compound’s beneficial anti-cancer effects to continue killing cancerous cells seven days after dosage, while the cancer drug stopped 3 days after.